Recombination Crafting Is Here: Risky Item Creation Returns

Path of Exile 2’s 0.2.0 update introduces Recombination, a new high-risk crafting system that lets you combine two rare items in hopes of creating something even stronger. This mechanic is part of the reworked Expedition content and brings back the excitement (and frustration) of trying to hit that perfect combination of modifiers.

How Recombination Works

To access Recombination crafting, you need to complete your first Expedition. After that, you will begin to find artifacts during Expedition encounters that can be used to fuel this powerful “new” system.

Here is how the process works:

• Choose two rare items of the same base type.
• Select which modifiers you want to try to keep from each item.
• Hit the Recombine button.

If you are lucky, you might get an item with the best mods from both. If not, both items are destroyed in the process. It is a true gamble that can pay off big for those chasing perfect rares, but it will require quite a bit of RNG luck.

Why This Is a Big Deal

Recombination gives you a new way to chase powerful items outside of deterministic crafting. It rewards game knowledge, good judgment, and a little bit of luck. Although you cannot force specific outcomes, you can significantly influence the odds with smart mod selection.

And because it is unlocked early in endgame progression, it helps bridge the gap between basic gear upgrades and high-end crafting strategies.

Recombination Crafting Patch Notes

Below is the exact mention of this new system, as written in the official patch notes by GGG.

“A new crafting mechanic called Recombination has been added to Expedition, which allows you to select mods on two items, hoping to get the best elements of each on a single item. As you select more mods, the chance of success decreases. If you are not successful, the items will be destroyed. This will be unlocked as you complete your first Expedition, and requires artifacts found during the Expedition to fuel it.”